KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Rosilyn Temple is a grieving mother.
“His name was Antonio Thompson. We call him Pee Wee, because when he was born, he was little.”
It’s an experience no one wants to have, but as other mothers face the same circumstance, Temple is right there to provide comfort.
Temple recently took 41 Action News anchor Kevin Holmes to where her son died seven years ago – it’s a place Temple still struggles.
“I can remember walking around. That was open right there,” Temple said, pointing to a place now covered in greenery.
It was the day before Thanksgiving in 2011 when police found Pee Wee shot to death inside his Kansas City apartment.
“I just fell to the ground, I couldn’t catch my breath” Temple recalls. “My son’s death broke my heart. I just don’t understand why it’s so hard for people to step up and do something that’s right.”
Temple now heads the local chapter of Mothers In Charge. She and her organization provide support for grieving mothers and walk them through the process.
“Grief is dangerous,” Temple says, which is why she says no one should go through the process alone.
She even assists mothers and police in solving homicides, all the while in need of help herself.
“Somebody killed my son and no one has the decency to stand up and say ‘I’mma help that woman,’” Temple said. “I do everything to try and help everybody, anybody in the community.”
Temple remains optimistic that Pee Wee’s murder will eventually be solved.
“I’m fighting, yes I do. I believe in the system.”
Like most people, Temple also believes money talks.
Crime Stoppers recently announced the decision to increase the maximum reward to $10,000.
Hours after that announcement, a tip came in that allowed police to solve the murder of Norez Brock.
Solving just that one case has given grieving mothers renewed hope, including Temple.
“I’m giving my community all of me. All of my time. The last breath of my body, my community will have it. So give me that and help me solve my son’s case.”
